“I made some fantastic investments months ago. Plus, my father’s money. I am more than comfortable.” I grabbed her hand. “Wendy, you are my sister, one of my closest friends and Iam more than happy to help when I can, where I can.” I waited until she met my eyes. “I need you to understand that money means nothing to me and if you need it all, you have to do is tell me. I can’t help if I don’t know.”
She waited for a few seconds before a tear dropped from her eye. “My Alpha is threatening to raise our rent, and my mom’s pay was just cut.”
Toya stepped closer. “Why was it cut?”
Jora came closer, too. “Are you Mrs. Sandlewood’s daughter?” Wendy nodded. I turned to Jora, and he raised his hands. “I overheard some she-wolves closer to Vince talking about how the secretary stepped out of line and Vince is pissed.”
“What else did they say?”
“Just that he thought she was the person who notified the King about some of the information about the school she shouldn’t have, and he was squeezing to put her in her place.”
I pulled out my phone and scrolled. I had all the Alpha’s contacts stored in my phone. I pulled up Wendy’s Alpha’s number and hit call. Wendy tried to grab for my hands but I pushed her hand down and waited. The phone rang a few times before a groggy whine came through. “Hello?”
“Hi Alpha Kirk, it’s Amy Maclean.”
“Alpha Amy? Why are you calling me this late?”
“Oh, I just heard something that I needed to deal with right away. Now Kirk, do you remember ten years ago…” I trailed off as I waited for him to remember me diving into the lake by the Alpha summit ten years ago to save his daughter. She was about three and she had wandered away and fell in. The adults were too busy, so I dove in, being a scrawny eight-year-old who had just learned how to swim.
She wasn’t breathing, so I did the only thing I knew how to do; I ran with her in my arms straight into the meeting room to my father, who performed CPR, saving the pup. Unfortunately forthe nanny that lost his daughter, though, she was killed before the night was up.
“Of course I remember.” His voice sounded clearer.
“Honey, who is it?” His Luna’s words were soft.
“It’s Amy Maclean.” I heard the shuffling of blankets and then the phone clicked. We were on speaker.
Then the Luna’s voice came clearer. “If you need anything, we will do what we can. You saved Maddy.” I smiled, perfect.
“Actually, I do need something. A friend of mine is from your pack and she just told me her mother is having a little bit of an issue with her house. I just wanted to see if I could clear it up for her. I’ll buy it out right, of course, but I just don’t want them worrying any more.”
“Who is it?”
“Mrs. Sandlewood, her daughter Wendy, is my friend.” There was a thick silence.
“Do it.” His Luna murmured. “No, I don’t care what Vince said. She saved our daughter, for goddess’ sake.”
Kirk cleared his voice. “No need for money, Amy. You did us a service, and it’s our turn to return the favour. The house is hers. I’ll sign the title over to her in the morning.”
“Thank you Alpha. You and Luna Marie have a good night.” I would not argue with them. I also pulled up my banking app and sent Wendy a transfer. Thankfully, I didn’t need her information, just her number. I looked at her. “I need you to send this to your mother and before you say no, please understand that what Vince is doing is because of me.”
There was a ding, and a wide eyed Wendy pulled out her phone, and screamed. She nearly dropped her phone, but I was ready and snatched it from the air. “Amy, I can’t accept this.”
“Of course you can.” I handed back her phone. “Remember, he is going to push harder and harder until it’s too much for your mom to work at the school anymore. She won’t have an incometo take care of herself, or you. She will need a buffer until all of this blows over. I’m giving you this buffer.”
Wendy’s eyes filled with tears. “Are you sure?”
“More than anything.” I kissed her brow and then grabbed the cart. “Now let’s go, before something else dramatic happens.”
Jora looked at his watch. “Yes, it’s getting very late.” We rushed through the checkout and headed back to the school. Toya and Wendy were talking low in the back when Jora turned to me. “Thank you for the garden, Amy.”
I waved him off. “It’s no issue, Jora.”
“I know you feel that way. But I know my mate will love that silly little garden.”
I turned to face his side of the car. “Honestly, it is the least I could do for your help with taking us to the store this late. I know you aren’t supposed to take us out past eight. So I appreciate it.”
He glanced my way and then nodded. “You know, you are so different from what I expected.”
